Govt secures approval for key assistance funds<\/p>\n
Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Previous concerns of a delay in the disbursement of the much
\nneeded assistance funds for low-income families have proved
\nunfounded now that the House budget commission has agreed to the
\ngovernment's proposed 2005 state budget revision.<\/p>\n
The approved funds will stand at Rp 12.49 trillion (US$1.3
\nbillion), with greater assurance for children from low-income
\nfamilies of getting a better education, as the funds will mostly
\ngo to a \"tuition-free education scheme\".<\/p>\n
The figure is an increase from the Rp 10.78 trillion the
\ngovernment had previously proposed, in addition to the Rp 7.34
\ntrillion already disbursed this year to help alleviate any
\nfinancial burden on the poor caused by the recent fuel price
\nincrease.<\/p>\n
The commission will officially approve the new figures at a
\nhearing on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The commission formed three working groups for its
\ndeliberation of the budget revision, with each respectively
\ntasked to discuss the government's proposal of the budget's
\nmacroeconomic assumption, the low-income assistance funds and the
\nrehabilitation and reconstruction fund for tsunami-stricken Aceh
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Explaining the commission's approval for the assistance funds,
\ngroup chairman Hafiz Zawawi said his working group had agreed to
\nraise the assistance funds for education to Rp 6.27 trillion. It
\nalso changed the disbursement scheme from the previously proposed
\nscholarships for students from low-income families, to a free-
\ntuition education scheme.<\/p>\n
Schools receiving the funds must exempt its students from all
\ntuition and fees, including for books and exams, with Hafiz
\nasserting that the fund would be strictly monitored.<\/p>\n
\"The use of the funds have to be approved by the school's
\ncommittee according to government guidelines,\" he said. \"Local
\nadministrations must not cut any fund disbursements.\"<\/p>\n
Similarly, the budget commission will also approve additional
\nassistance funds for public health, from Rp 2.78 trillion to Rp
\n2.88 trillion, in the form of free health services for low-income
\nfamilies at community health centers and third-class treatment at
\ngeneral hospitals throughout the country.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, assistance funds for rural infrastructure
\ndevelopment -- consisting of road repairs, irrigation projects
\nand clean water facilities -- will remain the same at Rp 3.34
\ntrillion, but will be disbursed to more underdeveloped villages
\nin the country.<\/p>\n
\"Allocations for each village will be decreased from Rp 300
\nmillion to Rp 250 million, so we can assist more villages --
\n12,834 villages instead of the previous 11,140,\" Hafiz said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the commission is also expected on Tuesday to agree
\nto a revised growth rate of 6 percent, inflation rate of 7.5
\npercent, rupiah exchange rate of Rp 9,300 per U.S. dollar and an
\noil price of $45 per barrel.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-secures-approval-for-key-assistance-funds-1447893297",
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